If you are not familiar with the inspiration behind the name of this fragrance, allow me a tiny clarification here.
Loki is a figure from Norse mythology, known as the (half-)god of mischief. He is a very notorious and complex character, part of numerous myths and legends. Loki is a trickster, famous for his shapeshifting abilities and use of magical powers. His stories are filled with intrigue, deception, and unexpected twists, making Loki a very fascinating and exciting figure. Sometimes he is an ally and sometimes an opponent of the Aesir gods. His magical skills and shapeshifting make him the god of chaos and the master of deception, always looking out for his own advantage.
I find this name inspiration both successful and fitting for the underlying fragrance!
Loki starts off quite fresh and citrusy. The associations mentioned here with aftershave, or rather shaving foam, I can largely confirm from my own impression. The oakmoss from the base contributes to a certain barbershop freshness. However, you can already sense from the beginning that this fragrance has more up its sleeve. The opening is directly accompanied by a certain vanilla sweetness and a pleasant, soft, smoothed-out spiciness. A lightly sweet peppery nutmeg can be sensed, while I personally do not recognize the clove from the pyramid distinctly.
As the fresh citrus notes of the opening gradually settle, they make way for a beautifully soft oriental base of the fragrance. The cool freshness dissipates and is replaced by warm amber and a creamy tonka bean. Soft wood accords accompany the fragrance from this point onward.
Towards the drydown, the fragrance becomes increasingly emphasized by tonka and vanilla. The level of sweetness is well-measured, stylish, and never annoying. The Thai oud is subtle but always perceptible and masterfully woven into the scent. Aaron uses nothing animalistic here, but a very gentle, mass-appealing oud that comes across as very soft. By the way, there is again a certificate of origin and used percentage, which to my knowledge only a handful of fragrance houses do with such transparency.
The fragrance character from the middle onward is always slightly sweet, gently spicy, subtly powdery, and comfortably warm.
The fragrance undergoes an interesting transformation from opening to drydown and reveals itself to be quite multifaceted. It is relatively easy to access, yet it shows a certain depth. Other creations are certainly deeper in this regard.
Other gods are often more present and louder in mythology. Thus, this fragrance is, in my opinion, rather moderate in terms of sillage. The scent is not a showstopper like the divine counterpart in some legends. Loki is always seen for his attractive appearance, but he spins his true strengths and intrigues rather unnoticed in the background.
The god of mischief accompanies mythology until Ragnarok, the Norse equivalent of Armageddon, the apocalypse, the end of the world. I wouldn’t go that far regarding longevity ;) In my opinion, the fragrance is in the upper average range. It produces about three to four hours of sillage and is perceivable on my skin for about 6 to 8 hours. That’s perfectly fine and better than most of what you get today.
Loki is part of numerous stories. Sometimes kind, sometimes evil, sometimes helpful, sometimes scheming. The fragrance almost exclusively showcases the "good" character traits of the figure. Thus, I also see the fragrance as wearable in many contexts. Generally discreet enough for the office, it likely plays its true strengths in the realm of evening outings, "dates," or in a calm, cozy atmosphere.
I find the bottle very chic. I really like the magnetic metal cap, the engraved company emblem, as well as the crystal stones. The bottle itself is beautifully minimalist and timeless, and well-crafted. The sprayer is of good average quality.
The pricing is unfortunately quite exclusive. I commend Aaron for this, as you are indeed acquiring rare small batches and high-quality craftsmanship here.
Is the "divine" name justified? I think so. There are certainly deeper, more multifaceted fragrances than Loki, which can be very simplistically but aptly described, and at this point, a quote from Cedrolemon from the statements is allowed, as "tonka vanilla incorporated in aftershave." Nevertheless, it achieves a great mix of likability, wearability, character, and above all, uniqueness, which earns it a rightful place in Asgard, the Norse "heaven."
